If you're equally passionate about creativity and coding, if you're equally in love with painting as you are with programming, or if you're hoping to create the next big viral app or digital masterpiece, you're not alone. Opportunities abound in the world for students who wish to pursue the intersection of art and technology. Indeed, some of the most thrilling competitions of the day are seeking precisely that intersection, where imagination and innovation come together.
No matter if you're a fan of digital art, design, interactive media, or creative business, these 10 contests will engage you to think beyond disciplines, work with others, and express your singular abilities.
Doodle for Google
One of the globe's most iconic artistic competitions, Doodle for Google challenges students to create a Google homepage logo from an annual theme. You can use any artistic material, but the end result is digital, and winners have their work displayed around the world. The competition also requests a brief write-up of what you did, combining storytelling with visual design. Awards consist of a $30,000 college scholarship, a $50,000 technology package for your school, Google hardware, and the excitement of having your work appear on the world's most-visited website.
Deadline: March every year
Eligibility: High school students globally
Cooper Hewitt Design Competition
If you’re curious about using data and design to create real-world impact, the Cooper Hewitt Design Competition is for you. Students learn about data visualization and use digital tools to communicate solutions to community challenges. Finalists are mentored by industry experts and present their projects virtually. This competition is a great way to build your skills in both design thinking and technology.
Deadline: February each year
Eligibility: 13-19 years old, individual or team
EarthX Eco-Art Competition
EarthX's Eco-Art Competition invites students to make their art using any material, digital included, that informs and educates about sustainability and climate change. The annual theme is free to interpret, and the work is critiqued on artistic value, theme coherence, and effectiveness. This is an ideal place for students who aspire to utilize their technical abilities for the Earth.
Deadline: January yearly
Eligibility: Students in high schools around the world
AVIXA Digital Art Challenge
The global contest honors the convergence of artistic content and audiovisual technology. Creators produce a one-minute video (still or motion, with sound) that represents a specified theme, employing digital tools and narrative. The winners are displayed at the ISE trade fair in Barcelona, where massive LED walls and interactive technology bring their work to life.
Deadline: September every year
Eligibility: Design students, schools, and professionals
S+T+ARTS Prize
The S+T+ARTS Prize is a worldwide competition that celebrates excellent projects where science, technology, and arts meet. It rewards innovative co-operations as well as artistic investigations that employ technology in a novel manner ranging from data-based art to interactive installations and immersive media. The laureates are presented at Ars Electronica and other significant events, thus providing the start for talented young creatives.
Deadline: March yearly
Eligibility: Global students and professionals
Imagine RIT: Technology, the Arts, and Design Competition
Conducted as part of the Imagine RIT Festival, this competition honors projects that shatter the boundaries of technology, arts, and design. Students showcase innovations from digital theater productions and AR experiences to smart devices and accessibility apps. The judges seek innovative solutions to everyday issues, engaging narratives, and innovative forms of visual communication.
Deadline: April annually
Eligibility: High school and university students
MIT Creative Arts Competition
Organized by MIT, this student competition encourages students to create art-based entrepreneurial ventures. Students work with mentors to create business plans, prototype models, and present their concepts to judges. Projects tend to cross-pollinate digital art, engineering, and social responsibility, so this is really a challenge that tests both technical ability and imagination.
Deadline: February of each year
Eligibility: College students (but high school students are eligible through partnerships and outreach efforts)
ArtsIT: Arts and Technology Conference
ArtsIT is a global conference and competition where artists, technologists, and researchers get together to share projects on the forefront of art and tech. Attendees show research, installations, performances, and digital art that expands creative possibilities. It's a great chance to network, hear from industry experts, and share your interdisciplinary skills.
Deadline: Annually, varies
Eligibility: High school, college students, and professionals
Adobe Certified Professional World Championship
This international competition pushes students' proficiency in Adobe Creative Cloud tools such as Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign. Students tackle actual design problems that demand both artistic touch and technical expertise. Participants are rewarded with cash prizes, global exposure, and an opportunity to meet and greet with creative professionals.
Deadline: Qualifiers all year round
Eligibility: Ages 13-22
National STEM Video Game Challenge
If you're passionate about coding, storytelling, and gaming, the National STEM Video Game Challenge is your moment in the spotlight. Students create and develop their own original video games that incorporate art, music, storytelling, and technology. Creativity, gameplay, and integration of STEM are what judges evaluate. An ideal mix of artistic creativity and tech skills.
Deadline: Every spring, annually
Eligibility: Middle school and high school students
Art and tech are no longer mutually exclusive, they're collaborators on some of the coolest innovations in progress today. Whether you're looking to create a Google Doodle, develop an interactive installation, or program the next big video game, these competitions are your ticket to think big, acquire new skills, and share with the world what you can do when technology and creativity collide.
Are you ready to code, create, and compete? Choose a challenge, collect your ideas, and let imagination guide you!
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Through personalized guidance and independent research projects that can lead to prestigious publications, RISE helps you build a standout academic profile and develop skills that set you apart. With flexible program dates and global accessibility, ambitious students can apply year-round. To learn more about eligibility, costs, and how to get started, visit RISE Research’s official website and take your college preparation to the next level!
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